“Personal Luxury Coupe”. See also: big, slower than it should be, overstuffed, pretentious, baroque, disco barge…do I need to continue? It is difficult to equate the change from the snorting powerhouse musclecars to the fluffy-assed personal luxury coupes that followed them without putting in a “hangover” mention somewhere. Sure, interiors were getting nicer to sit in, but you gained plastics that dusted, disintegrated and faded like none other. Sure, you got emissions controls that, honestly, are basic and at the time were needed, but you also got the knee-jerk power cutting. You also gained chromed railroad ties at each end and a lot of weight added on as well. Not good times unless you were the kind of couple that drove their Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme or Chrysler Cordoba to the opera in the evening at least three times a week.
The reason I dig 1970s cars, though, is because the truth of the matter was that all of the manufacturers were lazy during this time period. They would simply re-skin what they had and hoped that nobody would ever notice. GM, Chrysler, Ford, even AMC did it. The underpinnings were the same basic musclecar, better or worse, that they had, but with a body that most people retch from. I embrace it, and the movement for others to do the same is growing. Take this 1974 Pontiac Grand Prix. That face only a mother could love, but you see the NACA ducts on the hood that were a Grand Am/1973 GTO option, right? Grand Prix did not get that option. You know what else was highly unlikely to ever be seen in a Grand Prix?
You’re damn skippy that’s a four-speed, Jack. This car is a meeting between a well-kept Grand Prix and a 1974 Grand Am donor car, running a 1972 Pontiac 350 that has been gone-through and sorted out. You want personal luxury? No 18-foot car qualifies as a “personal” thing, but rowing your own in a car that nobody else will have out on the road sounds like our view on the subject. You’ve got air conditioning, power seats, power windows, cruise control, the full gauge package…sounds like luxury to us!
If this was a Grand Am, I’d be all over this like gravy on potatoes! Never was a fan of this body style but put in a 4 speed and I might change my mind!
It is a 4 speed. I just an\’t get by the bumper sandwich cars.
Buddy had a Grand Am with the 400 and 4 speed. The Grand Prix is even heavier, I think that a 455 would be a better choice.
Hats off to this guy guy for putting this combo together. It’s sad that a super rare 74 Grand Am 4-speed car sacrificed itself for this, but I have to assume that was beyond saving, so the good parts live on with this GP. That said, I think this thing is cool. The heavy lifting is done on this in terms of converting to a manual trans and grafting in the NACA scoops, so this could easily be enjoyed in as-is condition, or could lay the foundation for more cubes or suspension upgrades. I personally see this with a more aggressive, (read, lowered), stance with bigger wheels and tires and a more pro-touring vibe. A little tuck in of the bumpers and removal of some of the battleship grade steel behind them and you’ve improved the looks and lost 80 pounds right off the top. Also, this GM platform can be made to handle amazingly well, and they are a blast to toss around. A super clean survivor with some very cool features.
The 350 in this grand prix easily out performs the factory, low compression ,tiny broomstick camshaft having 1974 455 that came in it. I know because I built it and own it. Roller camshaft, roller rockers, ported heads, stainless valves, 9.7 to 1 compression, headers, hays lightweight aluminum flywheel. Lighter pistons etc.. I know 455\’\’s will always be more cool though. Buy em,Fix em, Drive em, sell em. Repeat
I freaking love this car!!! I agree a 400 or 455 would be better, but the poncho 350 is a good solid piece. But I’m also interested in one day building a sick twin turbo 301, so I acknowledge I’m a little out there.
I owned a 74 with a 400. Black over red, I loved that car!
Wonderful ride. Yeah, I didn’t get the front end styling during those years but they are an interesting alternative to a Monte Carlo. Lots of those still around. Really, the 4 speed makes this car special.
Great, I’d love to own it. Still better 40 years later than the average crap we are forced to drive today.